Display means



Sept. 27, 1966 R. G. CAMPBELL 3,275,818

DISPLAY MEANS Filed Aug. 26. 1964 F 2 INVENTOR ROBERT G. CAMPBELL fi 16 BY ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,275,818 DISPLAY MEANS Robert G. Campbell, 4165 Greeliy St., Philadelphia, Pa. Filed Aug. 26, 1964, Ser. No. 392,133 4 Claims. (Cl. 240-) This invention relates to a display means. More particularly, it relates to a frame or mount suitable for the provision of a wide variety of displays or arrangements. The invention relates with more particularity to a set of mutually adjustable modular elements, each equipped with magnets. Other elements include co-operating magnetic parts, fastening means to removably assemble the modular means, and holding or clip means to hold lights or other devices on said frame or display mount.

A particular application of this invention lies in the provision of exterior house decorative lighting for the Christmas season or similar occasions. Other expedients have been proposed to deal with this problem. Such other expedients require relatively elaborate elements including spring elements, and rely on frictional engagements. Such previously known expedients are useful only for mounting the display in a jamb. That is, broadly speaking, they are useful only for mounting between opposed surfaces, whereas the present invention permits mounting both in a window or door jamb or on a fiat surface such as a wall, all of which may be broadly described as mounting surfaces.

It is an object of this invention means.

It is another object of this invention to provide an adjustable frame or mount for supporting lights or other devices, said frame or mount comprising a set of modular mutually adjustable elements, fastening means to hold said elements together in a fixed relationship, and magnetic means on said elements, together with magnetizable parts to which said magnets can adhere.

Other aims and objects of this invention are made apparent in the following specification and claims.

The invention is best understood in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like parts and in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevation view of the side of a house, partially fragmented, showing the display means in a window jamb,

FIGURE 2 is an exploded perspective view of two to provide a display 7 coacting modular elements of the means, and

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view, partially fragmented, showing a light held on one of the modular elements.

The structure of the modular elements is best shown in FIGURE 2. A modular element is an elongated member, with its body bent or otherwise formed to have a right angle extending longitudinally. Such elements are broadly and generally known in a wide art as angle irons. In this patent, modular element 11 and modular element 12 may both be described as rigid longitudinally right angled modular elements. Such elements are preferably unitary and may be made by bending a fiat strip of aluminum, plastic, or steel, for example, as shown. Preferably, each modular element 11 or 12 has a single longitudinal bend which divides the element into two legs of equal width. Preferably, the modular elements are initially made of sheet materal.

Each modular element 11 and 12 is provided with a single magnet 16. As shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, magnet 16 is preferably a small flat piece of magnetized material. The magnet 16 is fastened to one surface of one of the legs of the modular element. The surface to which magnet 16 is attached is one that faces away or outwardly from the right angle made by the legs. The magnets 16 may be of any suitable permanent magnet material, such as Alnico, for example. Magnet 16 may be attached to modular element 11 or modular element 12 by any convenient means, such as by the use of an adhesive.

The exploded assembly of two modular elements is generally designated 10 in FIGURE 2. Element 12 comprises, in addition to magnet 16, described above, a hole 12a extending through the same leg as that on which the magnet is mounted. Modular element 11 is identical to element 12 in all respects except that it is provided with a longitudinally elongated slot 11a through the same leg on which its magnet 16 is provided. Slot 11a and hole 12a may each be described as fastening apertures. Both modular elements 11 and 12 have their magnets 16 relatively close to one end thereof and their apertures 11a or 12a respectively close to the other end thereof.

It is apparent from FIGURE 2 that element 11 may be nested against or assembled with element 12by moving it along the broken line in that figure. Fastening apertures 11a and 12a will then register and fastening means may be provided through both of these apertures to hold elements 11 and 12 firmly together. A preferred fastening means includes a bolt having a wing head, shown at the right end of the broken line, a washer 15 and a nut 17. The elements may thus be fastened together to provide any desiredtotal length of the assembled elements within the limits afforded by the longitudinal extent of slot 11a.

With only the modular elements and fastening means described above, a complete display mount or frame assembly 10 may be provided as best shown in FIGURE 1. A jamb 50 surrounds a window in a Wall. It is desired to provide the display mount 10 around the entire jamb, that is providing a rectangular four-sided figure. It is only necessary to provide pairs of elements 11 and 12, and the entire display mount or assembly 10 around the entire jamb 50 may be thus completed. It is not necessary to provide any other element or means at the angles in the over-all mount 10 within jamb 50. It is not necess'ary to provide any direct means for fastening a given pair of elements 11 and 12 with any other pair.

A plurality of steel or iron buttons 53 are provided at spaced intervals around the entire outline of jamb 50. Each such button is affixed to the jamb in any convenient known way. A preferable way is by the use of an adhesive. The buttons 53 may be generalized by describing them as magnetizable parts. It is not necessary to exercise extreme care in the spacing of the buttons 53-. Provided that the spacing is somewhere between the spacing of magnets 16 on a pair of modular elements 11 and 12 when extended fully and contracted fully, the spacing of buttons 53 will be satisfactory. There is no limitation at all in the spacing between buttons 53 on surfaces at an angle to each other, as for example the two buttons 53 near the lower right corner of jamb 50 as shown in FIGURE 1. It is an easy matter to place these buttons with only a rough visual estimate of the spacing.

In assembling a complete display mount 10 in a jamb 50, the following steps are followed: The array of buttons 53 is provided, as described above. A pair of modular elements 11 and 12 are loosely and adjustably assembled and their magnets 16 are respectively placed against adjacent buttons 53. The fastening means on the pair of modular elements is then tightened. This process is repeated until the entire assembly 10 is completed.

As best shown in FIGURE 3, the assembly 10 is well suited for the arrangement of ornamental lights. 33 in base 32 and connected to a pair is provided. As shown in FIGURE 3, this lamp 33, base 32 and wires 31 is part of a plurality of such lamps as are well known and widely available as for Christmas decorations.

A plurality of holding means for clips 22 are provided.

These clips 22 are provided on the leg of element 11 other 3 than the leg on which magnets 16 is provided. The clips 22 are preferably generally U-shaped parts of elastic ma-,

terial, such as sheet steel. A back leg 22a of clip 22 fits over the back of the leg of modular element 11, as shown in FIGURE 3. On the front portion of clip 22 is,pro-' 22b which grips wire 31. Av

devices but, of course, other objects may be attached, such as for example tinsel. The clips 22 are shown and described herein only as typical holding means for fastening something to display mount10. It is understood that other holding means may be provided. As shown in FIG.- URE 2, there is a difference in the fastening apertures 11a and 12a. This requires the use of two different modular elements 11 and 12. It is possible to make all the fastening apertures as longitudinally elongated slots,:as in slot 11a on element 11. The advantage of such a structure is that only one type of longitudinally right angled modular element needs to be provided. A disadvantage is that it is somewhat harder to easily assemble the elements together with the fastening means.

When the assembly is removed, only the small inconspicuous buttons 53 remain. These buttons may be left in place permanently. It is even possible to paint over them without destroying the magnetic attraction.

Of course, if the jamb 50or other surface on which display mount 10 is to be-mounted is of magnetic material, it is possible :to dispense altogether with the buttons,53.'

However, the utility'of this invention is believed to be particularly applicable to thenonmagnetic walls and jambs which exist in most homes.

Another important aspect of this invention is that the assembly, 10 does not have to be assembled between op- 53 may all be posing wall faces. provided on a single If desired, the buttons surface, and the assembly and mounting may take place in precisely the same manner with the same results. It is also possible to assemble the pairs of modular elements as described above to form any desired shape or set of shapes that may be made of straight segments. Thus, for example, the word Xmas may be spelled out .on a flat wall. In such a case, the letter s would be approximated by a series of short segments. To make such a word, a plurality of buttons fixed to the wall to form the letters. that if more buttons 53 than required are used,,that is, if they are closer together than necessary, the assembly may still be made.

The scope of the invention is to be determined by the.

appended claims and isnot to be limited by the foregoing p cifi ti n and d a which e il ustrat e.

53 would be af- It is also apparent it is desired to provide I claim:

1. A display means comprising a plurality of pairs of nested modular elements, adapted to 'be mounted on a mounting surface at leastpartially vertical, each said pair being disposed in a fixed relationship to other said pairs but unattached to any other said pair, each said pair comprising two modular elements,,each said element comprising an elongated rigid member having a longitudinal right angled lbend therein, said bend forming a first leg and, a second leg, each said leg having said right angle and an outer surface facing away from said right angle, a single magnet on;said outer face of said first leg close to one end of said element, a fastening aperture through said first leg close to the other end of said element, said elements of each said together with the inner leg surfaces of one said element against the outer leg surfaces of said other element and said first leg of one element over said first leg of said other element, said fastening apertures in'e-ach said element being registered with eachother, fastening means through said registered fastening apertures, each of said magnets on a said pair facing in the same direction and one of said fastening apertures in a said pair being a longitudinally elongated slot, said mounting material, said first legs of allisaid elements in all said pairs being against said mounting surface magnets contact said magnetic. material, and said second legs are of said elements of said pairs are providedwith removeable, adjustable holding means thereon to hold a -display.

2. A-display means as set forth in claim 1 wherein said holding means comprises a clips, each said clip gripping theinnerand outer faces, of

said outer leg of one said element, each said clip including a recurved extensionto grip a display. 3. A display means as set forth in display is a string of electric lights along a wire, and said wire is heldin said recurved extension of said clips.

4. A display means as set forth in'claim 3 wherein said mounting surface is a window: jamb and. wherein said magnetic material thereon is a plurality of magnetic buttons permanently afiixed tosaid jamb and, spaced so.that each said magnet on said display means touches and is and said elements are dis-- magnetically held to a button, posed on said jamb in successive end to end relationship;

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1 1,171,138 2/1916 Quagliano 248206-;X 2,743,353 4/1956 Nicholson et a1. 1-"... 24052.15, 2,783,367 1 2/1957 Locke. 240-522 X 2,864,096 12/1958 Garber 4149 2,991,036 7/ 1961 Morgan 248206 3,025,389 3/1962 Esch 240'10 3,098,611 7/1963 Connell 24010 NORTQN ANSHER, Primary Examiner,

an inner surface facing pair being nestedsurface includingmagnetic so that the said plurality of 1U-shaped elastic claim 2 wherein said 

1. A DISPLAY MEANS COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF PAIRS OF NESTED MODULAR ELEMENTS, ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED ON A MOUNTING SURFACE AT LEAST PARTIALLY VERTICAL, EACH SAID PAIR BEING DISPOSED IN A FIXED RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER SAID PAIRS BUT UNATTACHED TO ANY OTHER SAID PAIR, EACH SAID PAIR COMPRISING TWO MODULAR ELEMENTS, EACH SAID ELEMENTS COMPRISING AN ELONGATED RIGID MEMBER HAVING A LONGITUDINAL RIGHT ANGLED BEND THEREIN, SAID BEND FORMING A FIRST LEG AND A SECOND LEG, EACH SAID LEG HAVING AN INNER SURFACE FACING SAID RIGHT ANGLE AND AN OUTER SURFACE FACING AWAY FROM SAID RIGHT ANGLE, A SINGLE MAGNET ON SAID OUTER FACE OF SAID FIRST LEG CLOSE TO ONE END OF SAID ELEMENT, A FASTENING APERTURE THROUGH SAID FIRST LEG CLOSE TO THE OTHER END OF SAID ELEMENT, SAID ELEMENTS OF EACH SAID PAIR BEING NESTED TOGETHER WITH THE INNER LEG SURFACES OF SAID ONE ELEMENT AGAINST THE OUTER LEG SURFACES OF SAID OTHER ELEMENT AND SAID FIRST LEG OF ONE ELEMENT OVER SAID FIRST LEG OF SAID OTHER ELEMENT, SAID FASTENING APERTURES IN EACH SAID ELEMENT BEING REGISTERED WITH EACH OTHER, FASTENING MEANS THROUGH SAID REGISTERED FASTENING APERTURES, EACH OF SAID MAGNETS ON A SAID PAIR FACING IN THE SAME DIRECTION AND ONE OF SAID FASTENING APERTURES IN A SAID PAIR BEING OF LONGITUDINALLY ELONGATED SLOT, SAID MOUNTING SURFACE INCLUDING MAGNETIC MATERIAL, SAID FIRST LEGS OF ALL SAID ELEMENTS IN ALL SAID PAIRS BEING AGAINST SAID MOUNTING SURFACE SO THAT THE SAID MAGNETS CONTACT SAID MAGNETIC MATERIAL, AND SAID SECOND LEGS ARE OF SAID ELEMENTS OF SAID PAIRS ARE PROVIDED WITH REMOVEABLE, ADJUSTABLE HOLDING MEANS THEREON TO HOLD A DISPLAY. 